- I am fully listening and paying attention.
- I am eager and ready to hear what you want to say.
Explanation
Origin
- Figurative idiom dating back to at least the 18th century.
- It uses hyperbole – suggesting one's entire body (all) has become ears – to emphasize complete focus on listening.
Synonyms & Related Expressions
Alternatives
Slang/Informal:
- Lay it on me.
- Shoot.
- Spill the tea. / Spill the beans. (Specifically for gossip/secrets/news)
- I'm tuned in.
- Word. (AAVE can signify I'm listening/I understand)
- Hit me. (Informal, similar to 'Shoot')
Vulgar/Emphatic (Usually impatient, demanding speech, not just listening):
- Spit it the fuck out!
Milder/Standard:
- I'm listening.
- Please tell me.
- I'm ready when you are.
- You have my attention.
Situational Appropriateness
- Generally informal to semi-formal.
- Common and appropriate among friends, family, and colleagues.
- Might be slightly too informal for very high-stakes formal presentations, but acceptable in most business meetings to show engagement.
Misunderstanding Warnings
- The figurative meaning is usually clear from context.
- Learners might initially find the image strange, but it's a very common idiom.
Examples
- You have some news? Tell me – I'm all ears!
- If you need to talk about what happened, I'm all ears.
- (During a meeting) Okay, let's hear your proposal. We're all ears.
Dialogue
Chloe: Do you have a minute? I have a kind of crazy idea I want to share.
Liam: Absolutely! Lay it on me. I'm all ears.
Chloe: Okay, so what if we tried marketing to a completely different demographic?
Social Media Examples
- Reply to a tweet asking for advice: Happy to help if I can. I'm all ears! What's the situation? #Advice
- Chat message: You mentioned you had some gossip? Okay, spill! I'm all ears 👀👂
Response Patterns
- The person wanting to speak usually begins their narrative immediately after hearing this.
- They might say Okay, great... or Alright, so... before launching into their story or idea.
Common Follow-up Questions/Actions
After hearing I'm all ears:
- The speaker starts talking (Well, it's like this...).
- The listener (all ears) actively listens, perhaps nodding or using minimal encouragers (uh-huh, okay).
Action:
- The listener focuses their attention; the speaker begins speaking.
Conversation Starter
- No.
- It's a response indicating readiness to listen, not an opener.
Intonation
- Enthusiastic and encouraging tone.
- Emphasis clearly on all ears.
- I'm ALL EARS!
Generation Differences
- Common and well-understood across most generations.
Regional Variations
- Standard idiom across all major English-speaking regions.